Written Answers Tuesday 2 March 2010

Scottish Executive

British Geological Survey

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or any of its agencies have been contacted regarding safety and security measures that will be needed if the proposed relocation of the UK continental shelf core and records collections to Keyworth goes ahead.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government have not been contacted regarding safety and security measures needed for the proposed relocation of the UK continental shelf core and records collection to Keyworth. However, it has raised its concerns regarding the proposed move to British Geological Survey for a number of reasons.

British Geological Survey

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the British Geological Survey regarding the proposed relocation of the UK continental shelf core and records collections to Keyworth.

Jim Mather: Both the First Minister and I have written to the British Geological Survey (BGS) urging them to reconsider their decision and retain the facility in Edinburgh. I have also recently met with Prof Ludden, Executive Director of BGS, to discuss these matters and to consider alternative options to maintain the data and formations within Scotland. Energy officials have also been in contact with BGS directly on a number of issues including the consultation process and the impact on users. This dialogue is continuing.

British Geological Survey

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the proposed relocation of the UK continental shelf core and records collections to Keyworth will have on the oil and gas industry in Scotland.

Jim Mather: The core and records collection currently located at Gilmerton is widely used by oil and gas companies in Scotland for exploration and development purposes. We are of the view that if core data is to be used to greatest economic value the cores need to be situated in close proximity to its main users. Relocating the core data to Keyworth would affect access to the material from Scotland, increase costs to the oil and gas industry and ultimately result in the facility being used less. This could have negative implications for North Sea petroleum activities and subsequently the levels of oil recovered from the UKCS.

British Geological Survey

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the proposed relocation of the UK continental shelf core and records collections to Keyworth will have on Scottish universities’ research capabilities.

Jim Mather: The existing facility at Gilmerton is, in our view, of great value to academia in Scotland and the current proposal would significantly disadvantage research undertaken at Scottish universities. Relocation would result in much reduced access to the dataset by Scottish-based research students. The proposals would also undermine the growing opportunities for carbon storage research in Scotland. Scotland’s universities are amongst the world leaders in carbon storage research and retaining research access to the core data at Gilmerton will be essential to the development of this crucial resource.

British Geological Survey

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many job losses will result from the proposed relocation of the UK continental shelf core and records collections to Keyworth.

Jim Mather: The British Geological Survey (BGS) have confirmed that current Gilmerton staff members will be relocated to BGS offices at Murchison House in Edinburgh where they will be in close proximity to the BGS marine geology group.

British Geological Survey

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted on the proposed relocation of the UK continental shelf core and records collections to Keyworth.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government were not consulted on the proposed relocation of the UK continental shelf core and records collections to Keyworth. We have raised our concerns with British Geological Survey on this issue.

British Geological Survey

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Energy and Climate Change regarding the proposed relocation of the UK continental shelf core and records collections to Keyworth.

Jim Mather: Energy officials have been in contact with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to discuss these matters and to consider alternative options to maintain the data and formations in Scotland. DECC have confirmed they have no objection to the relocation of the collection so long as the cores continue to be readily available and the condition of the cores is maintained.

British Geological Survey

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) financial and (b) operational effect the proposed relocation of the UK continental shelf core and records collections to Keyworth will have on Scottish businesses.

Jim Mather: Although we are not aware of any detailed assessment, it is likely that any relocation would have impact on some local businesses in Edinburgh in terms of hotel usage and other business services.

  This would be in addition to the negative impact upon Scottish based businesses directly affected by the proposal as outlined in response to questions S3W-31518 and S3W-31519 on 2 March 2010.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Census

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between Scottish ministers and the Registrar General regarding additional questions for the 2011 census.

Jim Mather: The Registrar General has held frequent and regular discussions with Scottish ministers in the preparation of the questions for the 2011 census.

Digital Inclusion

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the content of Digital Inclusion: Connecting Scotland’s people remains government policy.

John Swinney: The 2001 digital inclusion strategy Connecting Scotland’s People – published under the previous administration – was reviewed in 2006 before being superseded by the 2007 Digital Inclusion in Partnership strategy, also produced under the previous administration. We are currently reviewing our digital inclusion policy to ensure alignment with the Scottish Government’s purpose and objectives and in light of recent policy initiatives in UK and Europe.

Digital Inclusion

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken work to update Digital Inclusion: Connecting Scotland’s people since 2006.

John Swinney: The 2001 digital inclusion strategy Connecting Scotland’s People – published under the previous administration – was reviewed in 2006 before being superseded by the 2007 Digital Inclusion in Partnership strategy, also produced under the former administration. We are currently analysing a range of initiatives and developments to inform Scottish requirements for promoting digital inclusion.

Digital Inclusion

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what work it has undertaken to achieve the aims and objectives set out in Digital Inclusion: Connecting Scotland’s people .

John Swinney: The actions in the 2001 Digital Inclusion Strategy Connecting Scotland’s People – published under the previous administration – were superseded by the actions in the 2007 Digital Inclusion in Partnership Strategy, also produced under the previous administration. It therefore would not be appropriate for me to comment on the achievements of the previous administration.

Digital Technology

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would cost to upgrade the Whitsome telephone exchange to provide 8Mb broadband capacity.

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would cost to upgrade the Abbey St Bathans telephone exchange to provide 8Mb broadband capacity.

Jim Mather: Information on the cost of upgrading the Whitsome and Abbey St Bathans telephone exchanges to allow for providing 8Mbps broadband capacity is commercially sensitive and therefore cannot be released by the Scottish Government.

Electricity

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considered examples of undergrounding power lines in other European countries when making its decision on the Beauly to Denny power line.

Jim Mather: The issue of undergrounding was fully considered by the Technical assessor appointed to the Public Inquiry. I refer the member to the Technical Assessor’s report, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50006).

Electricity

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria will be for assessing the effectiveness of proposed mitigation measures in connection with the Beauly to Denny overhead power line.

Jim Mather: Measures for mitigating the impact of the Beauly to Denny upgrade on communities, on visual amenity and landscape, on the environment, on cultural heritage and on tourism are defined in the developer’s application, and in the conditions of the consent. It is against the application as proposed, and against the additional conditions imposed upon the developers in the letters of consent, that mitigation measures will be assessed.

Electricity

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs (a) per kilometre of undergrounding and (b) of the overhead power line, including lifetime maintenance, were used in reaching its decision on the Beauly to Denny power line.

Jim Mather: An analysis of the economic case for the Beauly to Denny overhead line, and a number of alternative solutions including undergrounding, was undertaken by the Technical Assessor appointed to the Public Local Inquiry. I refer the member to the Technical Assessor’s report, a copy of which is available in The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50006).

Electricity

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the overhead power line costs used in reaching its decision on the Beauly to Denny power line included the cost of mitigation measures.

Jim Mather: The approval in 2004 by Ofgem for the Beauly-Denny 400kV overhead line was informed by a cost benefit analysis, which was based upon a comparison of network capital and operation costs over time. The developers will be required to obtain approval from Ofgem for the additional expenditure before enacting the various mitigation measures secured by the conditions of consent. I do not consider that such expenditure will prove an obstacle to ensuring that the visual and environmental impacts of the 400kV line are acceptably mitigated.

Electricity

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason Historic Scotland did not attend the public inquiry for the Beauly to Denny power line.

Jim Mather: Historic Scotland did not attend the Beauly to Denny public inquiry because they did not object to the application. Although Historic Scotland did not attend and give oral evidence, they did submit written evidence which was accepted by the reporters.

Electricity

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish (a) a list of organisations and individuals consulted by ministers or officials after the public inquiry closed on the Beauly to Denny power line and (b) minutes of all such consultations.

Jim Mather: All evidence and other documentation submitted to the Public Local Inquiry, including responses submitted during the formal consultation periods, are in the process of being published on the Scottish Government’s website, and can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Infrastructure/Energy-Consents/Beauly-Denny-Index.

  Representations received since the inquiry closed have also been considered by ministers. However, as no new material evidence has been presented, Scottish ministers do not intend to publish these representations.

Electricity

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considered evidence on the impact on health in reaching a decision on undergrounding sections of the Beauly to Denny power line and, if so, whether this should have led to an application of the precautionary principle as set out in the Rio Declaration and the Maastricht treaty.

Jim Mather: The possible health risks associated with exposure to electric and magnetic fields have been addressed in the report of the Technical Assessor appointed to the Beauly Denny Public Inquiry. I refer the member to the Technical Assessor’s report, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50006).

  This report notes that: "The European Commission has concluded, with respect to EMF, that the precautionary principle should not be invoked because there are no clear scientific indications that the possible effects on human health may be potentially dangerous. The World Health Organization supports this interpretation advising that only very low-cost measures will be justified."

Emergency Services

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many attacks there were on emergency workers while on duty in 2009, broken down by local authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: The police recorded crime statistics collected centrally are based on an aggregate return, and do not record the occupation of the victim. However, following the introduction of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act in 2005, a new distinct crime classification of "Minor assault of an emergency worker" was created. Note that this will also include minor assaults of police officers during any course of their duties.

  The following table shows the number of offences of minor assault of an emergency worker recorded by the police in each council area, in 2008-09:

  Offences of Minor Assault of an Emergency Worker Recorded by the Police by Council Area, 2008-09

  

 Council Area
 2008-09


 Aberdeen City
 10


 Aberdeenshire
 6


 Angus
 2


 Argyll and Bute
 2


 Clackmannanshire
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 10


 Dundee City
 10


 East Ayrshire
 7


 East Dunbartonshire
 2


 East Lothian
 39


 East Renfrewshire
 1


 Edinburgh, City of
 290


 Eilean Siar
 0


 Falkirk
 0


 Fife
 387


 Glasgow City
 129


 Highland
 0


 Inverclyde
 4


 Midlothian
 30


 Moray
 3


 North Ayrshire
 6


 North Lanarkshire
 9


 Orkney Islands
 0


 Perth and Kinross
 4


 Renfrewshire
 25


 Scottish Borders
 41


 Shetland Islands
 0


 South Ayrshire
 10


 South Lanarkshire
 17


 Stirling
 0


 West Dunbartonshire
 10


 West Lothian
 96


 Scotland
 1,150



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  All serious assaults are recorded under a separate crime classification. However, the Scottish Government does not hold the number of serious assaults on emergency workers as the occupation of the victim is not held centrally.

Emergency Services

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many roadside emergency ambulance incidents there were in the NHS (a) Highland, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) Western Isles areas in each of the last three years.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally.

Enterprise

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the business start-up rate was in 1999, expressed as VAT/PAYE registrations per 10,000 adult population.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the business start-up rate was in 2000, expressed as VAT/PAYE registrations per 10,000 adult population.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the business start-up rate was in 2001, expressed as VAT/PAYE registrations per 10,000 adult population.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the business start-up rate was in 2002, expressed as VAT/PAYE registrations per 10,000 adult population

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the business start-up rate was in 2003, expressed as VAT/PAYE registrations per 10,000 adult population.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the business start-up rate was in 2004, expressed as VAT/PAYE registrations per 10,000 adult population.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the business start-up rate was in 2005, expressed as VAT/PAYE registrations per 10,000 adult population.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the business start-up rate was in 2006, expressed as VAT/PAYE registrations per 10,000 adult population.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the business start-up rate was in 2007, expressed as VAT/PAYE registrations per 10,000 adult population.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the business start-up rate was in 2008, expressed as VAT/PAYE registrations per 10,000 adult population.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the business start-up rate was in 2009, expressed as VAT/PAYE registrations per 10,000 adult population.

Jim Mather: VAT/PAYE registrations are released annually by the Office for National Statistics. VAT/PAYE registrations per 10,000 resident adults are now used to monitor the business start-up rate in Scotland.

  VAT/PAYE registrations are currently only available from 2002 to 2008 - VAT/PAYE registrations for 2009 will be published in November 2010. The following table shows VAT/PAYE registrations per 10,000 resident adults in Scotland from 2002 to 2008.

  VAT/PAYE Registrations per 10,000 Resident Adults, Scotland, 2002-08

  

 Year
 


 2002
 35


 2003
 37


 2004
 35


 2005
 41


 2006
 36


 2007
 43


 2008
 38



  Source: Business Demography 2008, Office for National Statistics, Mid-Year Population Estimates, General Register Office for Scotland.

  The registration figures for 2007 were particularly high, and it is likely that these figures partly reflect the impact of changes in tax rules in April 2007 surrounding managed service companies.

  VAT/PAYE registrations do not represent a complete picture of start-up activity as only companies with an annual turnover above the VAT threshold or who have employees on a Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme are required to register.

  More information on monitoring business start-ups in Scotland, including information on the recent change in source from VAT only registrations to VAT/PAYE registrations, is available from the Scotland Performs website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About/NotesSP/TechnicalNotesSPNI2.

Enterprise

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many business properties have a rateable value of (a) up to £10,000, (b) from £10,001 to £12,000 and (c) from £12,001 to £18,000, broken down by local authority area.

John Swinney: Following the 2010 revaluation of business rates, the following table shows the number of business properties in each uplifted rateable value band for the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS), broken down by local authority area.

  This table does not indicate SBBS eligibility and a substantial number of the properties included below will be part of larger chains or in receipt of other relief, such as empty property, charitable or rural relief and will not qualify for the bonus scheme.

  In 2008-09 some 64,000 properties qualified for SBBS and the expansion announced on 10 February to include small chains of properties with a cumulative rateable value under £25,000 will bring an additional 3,600 properties into the scheme.

  Non-Domestic Rated Property Distribution Across Rateable Value (RV) Bands and Local Authorities in Scotland*

  

 
 All
 Zero-rated or RV greater than £18,000
 RV from £1 up to £10,000
 RV from £10,001 up to £12,000
 RV from £12,001 up to £18,000


 Scotland
 213,760
 56,776
 130,320
 9,302
 17,362


 Aberdeen City
 8,271
 3,617
 3,410
 401
 843


 Aberdeenshire
 11,046
 3,048
 6,889
 395
 714


 Angus
 4,795
 1,047
 3,285
 162
 301


 Argyll and Bute
 7,584
 965
 6,090
 193
 336


 Clackmannanshire
 1,543
 323
 1,029
 67
 124


 Dumfries and Galloway
 8,926
 1,773
 6,513
 205
 435


 Dundee City
 5,666
 1,794
 3,022
 289
 561


 East Ayrshire
 3,833
 848
 2,491
 181
 313


 East Dunbartonshire
 2,256
 614
 1,237
 131
 274


 East Lothian
 3,234
 710
 2,114
 153
 257


 East Renfrewshire
 1,654
 449
 907
 110
 188


 Edinburgh, City of
 18,736
 6,714
 8,995
 1,043
 1,984


 Eilean Siar
 2,152
 227
 1,764
 66
 95


 Falkirk
 4,718
 1,316
 2,785
 234
 383


 Fife
 12,640
 3,427
 7,514
 598
 1,101


 Glasgow City
 24,984
 8,947
 12,317
 1,323
 2,397


 Highland
 16,624
 2,545
 12,630
 477
 972


 Inverclyde
 2,298
 545
 1,424
 125
 204


 Midlothian
 2,726
 686
 1,626
 137
 277


 Moray
 4,498
 982
 3,054
 173
 289


 North Ayrshire
 4,833
 988
 3,279
 164
 402


 North Lanarkshire
 8,951
 2,612
 5,026
 460
 853


 Orkney Islands
 1,981
 237
 1,590
 59
 95


 Perth and Kinross
 8,066
 1,855
 5,371
 320
 520


 Renfrewshire
 6,040
 1,597
 3,626
 283
 534


 Scottish Borders
 6,900
 1,152
 5,136
 219
 393


 Shetland Islands
 1,909
 268
 1,479
 46
 116


 South Ayrshire
 4,681
 1,099
 3,001
 222
 359


 South Lanarkshire
 9,315
 2,639
 5,309
 471
 896


 Stirling
 4,836
 1,242
 3,004
 193
 397


 West Dunbartonshire
 2,707
 716
 1,612
 143
 236


 West Lothian
 5,357
 1,794
 2,791
 259
 513



  Note: *Estimate based on Scottish Assessors Association draft valuation roll data portal on 18 February 2010.

Epilepsy

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is to see an epilepsy specialist in each NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: Most patients referred by their GP to a specialist for epilepsy will be referred to a neurology consultant. The median waiting time for a first outpatient neurology consultation following a GP referral for the year ending 31 December 2009 by NHS board of treatment is provided in the following table.

  

 NHS Board of Treatment*
 Median Wait (Days)


 Ayrshire and Arran
 60


 Borders
 60


 Dumfries and Galloway
 40


 Fife
 53


 Forth Valley
 73


 Grampian
 52


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 55


 Highland
 56


 Lanarkshire
 81


 Lothian
 44


 Orkney
 60


 Tayside
 56


 Western Isles
 53


 NHSScotland
 56



  Source: ISD Scotland, New Ways Data Warehouse.

  Notes: *Neurology services are not provided by NHS Shetland. Patients on the island requiring this services will be referred to another board.

Epilepsy

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what waiting time targets specific to epilepsy are in place.

Nicola Sturgeon: Most patients with epilepsy have their treatment in a primary care setting. Those who require to be referred or treated in a hospital setting will be covered by our current targets of 12 weeks for both a first outpatient consultation and for inpatient and day case treatment. NHSScotland has effectively delivered both these targets since the end of March 2009 – a year ahead of schedule.

  The Scottish Government has set NHSScotland a challenging whole journey waiting time target from referral to treatment of 18 weeks by the end of December 2011.

Health

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new outpatient attendances there were in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) Western Isles in each of the last three years.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of new outpatient attendances for the last three financial years ending 31 March in Highland, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles is shown in the following table.

  Number of New Outpatient Attendances

  

 NHS Board
 2007
 2008
 2009


 Highland
 68,132
 69,837
 71,694


 Orkney
 3,094
 3,175
 3,286


 Shetland
 5,504
 5,052
 5,445


 Western Isles
 6,790
 6,934
 6,791



  Source: ISD Scotland, ISD(s)1.

  PProvisional.

  Further information on outpatient attendances can be found on the ISD website at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4156.html.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what health capital projects have been approved for which funding has been committed up to May 2011.

Nicola Sturgeon: The vast majority of capital resources are allocated by formula directly to NHS boards. NHS boards receive a capital resource limit within which they identify and prioritise their capital spending requirements. Boards are only obliged to bring capital projects over their delegated limits, for consideration and approval by the Capital Investment Group.

  Following the UK Government’s pre-budget report announcement on 9 December 2009, it is clear that there is likely to be a significant reduction in the amount of capital funding available for the public sector, including the NHS. At this stage it is not clear how this will affect future devolved Scottish budgets. In line with this, NHS boards are currently reviewing their capital plans and are devising a process that will allow them to reach logical and well evidenced decisions on what investments they can take forward.

  The boards have recently submitted draft five year financial plans as they do annually. These plans are currently being assessed and are subject to review and possible change to reflect the evaluation currently being undertaken.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what health capital projects have been agreed by individual NHS boards but await approval from the Scottish Government and what the total value is of such projects.

Nicola Sturgeon: Currently there are three health capital projects with a capital value of circa £51.2 million which have been agreed by individual NHS boards, considered by the Capital Investment Group, but await formal Scottish Government approval as there are outstanding issues to be resolved. These projects are listed in the following table:

  

 NHS Board
 Status
 Capital Project
 Capital Value


 Grampian
 Full Business Case
 The Modernisation of Primary Health and Community Care Services in Forres
£12.130 million


 Lothian
 Full Business Case
 Musselburgh Primary Care Centre
£18.290 million


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 Outline Business Case
 Alexandria Medical Centre
£20.820 million



  Scottish Government officials are liaising with the boards concerned with a view to resolving the outstanding issues.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have died as a result of contracting norovirus in each year since 2007-08, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information which is available is given in the following table.

  Deaths in Scotland for which the underlying cause was allocated to norovirus, calendar years 2007 and 2008.

  Year of Registration of Death

  

 NHS board
 2007
 2008


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 0


 Borders
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0


 Fife 
 0
 0


 Forth Valley 
 0
 0


 Grampian
 0
 0


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 0
 1


 Highland 
 0
 0


 Lanarkshire
 1
 0


 Lothian
 0
 0


 Orkney
 0
 0


 Shetland
 0
 0


 Tayside
 0
 0


 Western Isles
 0
 0


 All Scotland
 1
 1



  Source: General Register Office for Scotland.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people had norovirus listed as a contributory cause of mortality on death certificates in each year since 2007-08, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Table 1. Deaths in Scotland for which norovirus or an equivalent term1 was mentioned on the death certificate in calendar years 2007 and 2008:

  Year of Registration of Death

  

 NHS Board
 2007
 2008


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 0


 Borders
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0


 Fife 
 2
 1


 Forth Valley 
 0
 0


 Grampian
 0
 0


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 2
 2


 Highland 
 0
 0


 Lanarkshire
 2
 0


 Lothian
 0
 2


 Orkney
 0
 0


 Shetland
 0
 0


 Tayside
 0
 1


 Western Isles
 0
 0


 All Scotland
 6
 6



  Source: General Registry Office Scotland.

  Note: 1. This table counts all deaths for which any one of the following words or terms was mentioned in the death certificate: norovirus, noroviral, norwalk (as this is what norovirus was originally called when it was identified in 1968); small round structured virus (SRSV, a term which was used later) and winter vomiting (as such illnesses are usually caused by norovirus). It also includes the deaths for which the underlying cause or any contributory cause was coded, in terms of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD10) as A08.1, Acute gastroenteropathy due to Norwalk agent.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether police or Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service procedures are in place to encourage best practice in the handling of stalking and harassment cases and, if so, whether it will publish the relevant procedures.

Frank Mulholland: The Police and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service take cases of stalking and harassment very seriously. There are no specific offences of stalking or harassment in Scots law but such cases can be prosecuted as breach of the peace or threats and can be prosecuted in the High Court of Justiciary depending on the seriousness of the offence.

  Where a person is convicted of an offence involving harassment of the victim, the prosecutor may apply to the court to make an non-harassment order against the offender, requiring the offender to refrain from such conduct as the court prescribes. Breach of a non-harassment order is a criminal offence.

  Guidance to Prosecutors is contained in Chapter 22 of the Book of Regulations, which is available on our website at www.copfs.gov.uk. In addition, Lord Advocate’s Guidelines to Chief Constables on Stalking were issued in 1999 by the then Lord Advocate, Lord Mackay of Drumadoon.

  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) recently revised their Joint Protocol "In Partnership: Tackling Domestic Abuse" which targets abusive behaviour between partners and ex-partners, some of which may constitute stalking and harassment. The Protocol is also available on the COPFS website.

  The Scottish Government has lodged an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill setting out a new charge which deals comprehensively with behaviour which would amount to stalking or harassment. If passed, all relevant guidelines will be reviewed and where necessary updated to take account of these changes.

Justice

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fixed penalty notices have been issued in relation to antisocial behaviour offences in the last three years and in how many of these cases (a) the penalty was paid within the requested timescale, (b) the offender did not pay and (c) enforcement action was sought, broken down by police force area.

Fergus Ewing: The following table shows the number of police fixed penalty notices for antisocial behaviour offences issued in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

  Police Fixed Penalty Notices for Antisocial Behaviour Offences

  

 Police Force
 2007(i)
 2008
 2009


 Central Scotland
 1,044
 1,961
 1,831


 Dumfries and Galloway
 591
 652
 615


 Fife
 1,250
 1,936
 1,985


 Grampian
 1,134
 2,756
 2,485


 Lothian and Borders
 N/A
 2,351(ii)
 6,871


 Northern
 277(iii)
 1,552
 1,572


 Strathclyde
 3,204(iv)
 27,219
 38,361


 Tayside
 3,513
 3,793
 3,134



  (Source: Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland).

  Notes:

  (i) All figures in this column from April 2007 to December 2007 inclusive, unless shown.

  (ii) Figures from April 2008 to December 2008 only.

  (iii) Figures from August 2007 to December 2007 only.

  (iv) Figures from October 2007 to December 2007 only.

  Information relating to the recovery and enforcement of financial penalties, including antisocial behaviour fixed penalties, is now published in reports on the Scottish Court Service website. This can be accessed at www.scotcourts.gov.uk/payyourfine. Please note that this is not directly comparable with the table above as, while there is some local data, the SCS took over responsibility for the recovery and enforcement of antisocial behaviour fixed penalties in the sheriffdoms of North Strathclyde and South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway only in December 2009 and February 2010 respectively.

Media

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism in the debate on the local newspaper industry on 28 January 2010 that he had "met representatives from the sector to discuss these and other national issues on six occasions" ( Official Report c. 23195), when these meetings took place; who attended each meeting, and what was discussed.

Jim Mather: In saying "six occasions" the six occasions I had in mind were:

  On 4 February 2009 I led a Scottish national newspaper seminar which brought together stakeholders from across the Scotland’s national newspaper industry, to discuss the challenges and the opportunities for the sector. Attendees included representatives from the Herald and Times Group, the Scotsman, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) as well as a range of editors, journalists, publishers, distributors, newspaper associations, academics and consumers from across Scotland.

  On 26 February 2009 I met representatives of the Council of the Scottish Daily Newspaper Society which included Tim Blott, Managing Director, Herald and Times, Jim Raeburn, Scottish Daily Newspaper Society and Michael Johnston, Managing Director, Scotsman and Simon Fairclough who represented the Scottish Newspapers Publishers Association. At that meeting we discussed the newspaper industry in Scotland and the role of the Scottish Government, particularly with regard to local government recruitment portal and public information notices.

  On 2 April 2009 I met Ellis Watson, former CEO, Menzies Distribution, to discuss his proposed concept of providing all 17 year olds with a year long free subscription to a national newspaper.

  On 27 April 2009 I met Paul Holleran, the National Organiser for Scotland of the NUJ, to discuss the Daily Record/ Sunday Mail dispute.

  On 11 May 2009: I met Mark Hollinshead, Trinity Mirror to discuss the Daily Record/ Sunday Mail dispute.

  On 19 May 2009: I met Andrew, Christopher and Murray Thomson along with Ian Lamb of DC Thomson as they could not attend the session that I held on  4 February 2009. We discussed the challenges facing the industry and the local government jobs portal.

Media

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism in the debate on the local newspaper industry on 28 January 2010 that he had "met representatives from the sector to discuss these and other national issues on six occasions" ( Official Report c. 23195), whether these meetings involved representatives from the National Union of Journalists and, if so, when.

Jim Mather: On 4 February 2009, I led a session which brought together stakeholders from across the newspaper industry to discuss both the challenges and the opportunities for the sector. Representatives from the National Union of Journalists (including Paul Holleran, Scottish Organizer) attended.

  On 12 February 2010, at my invitation, Paul Holleran, National Union of Journalists spoke at the Scottish Local Newspaper Summit on the future of Scottish local newspapers and the proposed legislative changes to allow electronic publication of public notices by local authorities.

NHS Waiting Times

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of representations from NHS Ayrshire and Arran, what action it has taken regarding the reduction of non-recurring funding to meet waiting time targets.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government have allocated additional non-recurrent funding of around £5 million to NHS boards including NHS Ayrshire and Arran over the last few months to support delivery of the waiting time targets. Since December we have allocated an additional £700,000 non-recurrently to NHS Ayrshire and Arran in addition to the planned non-recurrent funding £1.507 million.

Procurement

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains on course to implement its sustainable procurement action plan and what progress has been made toward its goal of implementing guidance on supporting fair and ethically traded products by 30 November 2010.

John Swinney: The Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan was issued to the public sector in Scotland in October 2009. The Scottish Government has achieved its target dates to 28 February 2010 and is on course to meet the remaining target dates in the Action Plan. Target dates/actions achieved to date include:

  A Senior Management champion was appointed in October 2009

  A public commitment by the Permanent Secretary was published on the Scottish Government’s website in December 2009

  The Scottish Government has signed up to the Suppliers Charter

  The "Buy Sustainable Quick Wins" specifications were communicated to the wider Scottish public in October 2008

  The Scottish Government has a supplier engagement programme

  Use of the Public Contracts Scotland portal has been adopted by the relevant procurement organisations - Procurement Scotland and the Central Government Centre of Procurement Expertise

  The Scottish Government has published guidance about the ability to specify sustainable options.

  In 2005 the Scottish Procurement Directorate issued guidance to the public sector on how to legally procure fair and ethically traded products and has adopted that policy in relation to its own catering arrangements. Sales of fair and ethically traded products through staff restaurants and for meetings amounted to £278,066 in the 12 month trading period from March 2009 to February 2010, representing 14% of customer spending.

Regeneration

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether unsuccessful applicants to the Town Centre Regeneration Fund, such as Leith, will be able to access any money from that fund that has not been spent by successful applicants by the end of the financial year.

Alex Neil: There is no intention to revisit the unsuccessful Town Centre Regeneration Fund applications.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-17457 and S3W-26834 by Jim Mather on 14 November 2008 and 8 September 2009 respectively, what projects have received grants under the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme to date; how much each project has received, and on what date each funding allocation was made.

Jim Mather: Six projects have received grant payments to date totalling £2,196,080. These are as follows:

  

 Name of Developer
 Actual Milestone Payment
 Financial Year Payment Made
 Date Paid


 Ocean Power Technology
£46,295
 2007-08
 May 2008


 Ocean Power Technology
£73,336
 2007-08
 May 2008


 Ocean Power Technology
£64,597
 2007-08
 August 2007


 Ocean Power Technology
£88,718
 2009-10
 May 2009


 Total 
£272,946.00
 
 



  

 Name of Developer
 Actual Milestone Payment
 Financial Year Payment Made
 Date Paid


 Open Hydro
£182,987
 2007-08
 March 2008


 Open Hydro
£602,305
 2007-08
 December 2007


 Open Hydro
£54,526
 2007-08
 July 2007


 Open Hydro
£284,785
 2008-09
 April 2009


 Total
£1,124,603.00
 
 



  

 Name of Developer
 Actual Milestone Payment
 Financial Year Payment Made
 Date Paid


 Wavegen
£49,854
 2007-08
 January 2008


 Wavegen
£76,931
 2008-09
 January 2009


 Wavegen
£22,375
 2008-09
 April 2009


 Total
£149,160.00
 
 



  

 Name of Developer
 Actual Milestone Payment
 Financial Year Payment Made
 Date Paid


 Tidal Generation
£45,321
 2007-08
 July 2007


 Total
£45,321.00
 
 



  

 Name of Developer
 Actual Milestone Payment
 Financial Year Payment Made
 Date Paid


 Aquamarine Power
£228,337
 2008-09
 November 2008


 Aquamarine Power
 -£38,676
 2008-09
 September 2008


 Aquamarine Power
£22,754
 2007-08
 September 2007


 Aquamarine Power
£62,380
 2007-08
 July 2007


 Total
£274,795.00
 
 



  

 Name of Developer
 Actual Milestone Payment
 Financial Year Payment Made
 Date Paid


 ScotRenewables
£329,255
 2009-10
 June 2009



  The following four projects have been completed:

  Aquamarine Power

  OpenHydro

  Tidal Generation

  Wavegen.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what projects have not yet received all of the funding allocated under the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme.

Jim Mather: The following projects have not drawn down their total funding allocated under the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES):

  ScottishPower Renewables (previously known as CRE Energy)

  Ocean Power Technology

  Scotrenewables Marine Power Ltd.

  The Scottish Government is working closely with these developers and remain confident that these projects will meet the WATES deadline of March 2011.

  Unfortunately, following discussions with AWS Ocean Energy Ltd, the Scottish Government has had to withdraw that company’s WATES award of £1.76 million. This is because the thorough review undertaken by AWS, and the significant changes aimed at improving their technology which emerged from that process, meant that their revised project and development plans no longer met the original WATES eligibility criteria.

  AWS has since achieved welcome success in securing a £2 million investment from Scottish Enterprise’s Scottish Co-investment Fund and further private investment from the Shell Technology Ventures Fund.

  The Scottish Government will recycle the £1.76 million into a new wave and tidal fund, which we expect to launch during March.

Renewable Energy

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the availability was of wind-produced electrical power at periods of peak demand during the recent adverse weather conditions.

Jim Mather: The information requested is not held centrally. Annual figures for electricity generated by renewables in Scotland are published online at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Business.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many roads were closed by local authorities following damage sustained during the recent severe weather conditions, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many roads are closed following damage sustained during the recent severe weather conditions, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many roads are closed, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what roads are closed, broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Stevenson: This information is not held centrally.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued guidance to local authorities on the timescale within which local roads closed following damage sustained during the recent severe weather conditions must be repaired.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government provides local authorities with funding for local roads and transport through the core local government finance settlement and each council is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of local roads in their area. The actions taken by councils to best meet their statutory duties during and after severe weather are of course for each local authority to determine.

Scottish Enterprise

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what feedback Scottish Enterprise has had from universities regarding contract changes requested of them through its Proof of Concept programme.

Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.

Scottish Government Staff

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many members of staff it employs in its recruitment section.

John Swinney: There are 11.8 full-time equivalent staff in the Central Resourcing Unit (CRU) within the Scottish Government’s HR Shared Service Centre. This team is responsible for managing all internal vacancies and external recruitment for the core Scottish Government and for external recruitment for 11 of the government’s agencies and associated bodies.

Social Care

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on social care workforce development by (a) statutory authorities, (b) voluntary sector providers and (c) private sector providers since 2007.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally.

Social Care

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has received for social care workforce development in the last three years.

Adam Ingram: Funding for social care workforce development is included in the revenue funding to local authorities. I attach the revenue allocations for the period 2008-11.

  Local Authority Revenue Funding 2008-11

  

 Local Authority
 2008-09 Revenue 
(£ million)
 2009-10 Revenue 
(£ million)
 2010-11 Revenue 
(£ million)


 Aberdeen City
 340.892
 361.814
 367.204


 Aberdeenshire
 403.25
 425.866
 435.271


 Angus
 204.43
 215.706
 219.556


 Argyll and Bute
 218.977
 229.042
 231.488


 Clackmannanshire
 92.659
 99.381
 101.271


 Dumfries and Galloway
 298.173
 314.925
 323.027


 Dundee City
 305.863
 318.822
 320.514


 East Ayrshire
 231.717
 242.747
 244.425


 East Dunbartonshire
 178.372
 192.372
 192.558


 East Lothian
 166.234
 174.857
 178.328


 East Renfrewshire
 169.014
 179.382
 182.851


 Edinburgh (City of)
 775.511
 821.286
 816.288


 Eilean Siar
 108.241
 112.307
 115.895


 Falkirk
 269.922
 289.470
 295.158


 Fife
 646.636
 683.358
 690.629


 Glasgow City
 1,399.38
 1,464.773
 1,443.286


 Highland
 463.765
 487.826
 501.429


 Inverclyde
 177.484
 185.289
 184.431


 Midlothian
 155.422
 161.450
 162.346


 Moray
 160.306
 168.237
 173.026


 North Ayrshire
 274.125
 288.097
 288.547


 North Lanarkshire
 631.972
 663.777
 668.503


 Orkney Islands
 68.124
 71.864
 74.785


 Perth and Kinross
 242.05
 256.972
 265.090


 Renfrewshire
 336.408
 347.025
 347.507


 Scottish Borders
 212.846
 228.118
 231.130


 Shetland Islands
 94.533
 97.377
 98.691


 South Ayrshire
 201.934
 214.080
 215.982


 South Lanarkshire
 566.856
 596.062
 600.887


 Stirling
 169.674
 179.691
 183.103


 West Dunbartonshire
 203.867
 217.489
 216.582


 West Lothian
 293.541
 313.354
 318.580


 Distributed
 10,062.18
 10,602.816
 10,688.368

Suicide

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31018 by Frank Mulholland on 2 February 2010, whether guidance in any form has been issued or otherwise communicated to procurators fiscal to assist them in making a decision on whether or not to prosecute in such cases.

Frank Mulholland: There must be sufficient evidence in law before a prosecutor can decide whether or not it is in the public interest to prosecute. If there is sufficient evidence that a crime has been committed, the accused was the perpetrator and had the requisite mens rea (intention) the prosecutor will require to decide that prosecution is in the public interest. Every case is decided on the basis of its own particular facts and circumstances. No specific guidance is issued to Procurators Fiscal regarding assisted suicide. The Prosecution Code published by COPFS sets out the factors which can be taken in to account by procurators fiscal when deciding whether to prosecute. These considerations include the factors listed below at (i) to (xiii).

  (i) The nature and gravity of the offence

  (ii) The impact of the offence on the victim and other witnesses

  (iii) The age, background and personal circumstances of the accused

  (iv) The age and personal circumstances of the victim and other witnesses

  (v) The attitude of the victim

  (vi) The motive for the crime

  (vii) The age of the offence

  (viii) Mitigating circumstances

  (ix) The effect of prosecution on the accused

  (x) The risk of further offending

  (xi) The availability of a more appropriate civil remedy

  (xii) Powers of the court

  (xiii) Public concern.

Voluntary Sector

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to assist voluntary sector organisations that have been adversely affected by the closure of the Scottish Voluntary Sector Pension Scheme.

John Swinney: The Scottish Voluntary Sector Pensions Scheme is independent and the terms and conditions of employees of voluntary organisations are a matter for their employers.

Voluntary Sector

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Third Sector Resilience Fund or any other funding stream can be accessed by voluntary sector organisations that are in difficulty because of the closure of the Scottish Voluntary Sector Pension Scheme.

John Swinney: I understand that the Scottish Voluntary Sector Pensions Scheme will close to future accrual of benefits from 1 April 2010.

  The Scottish Voluntary Sector Pensions Scheme is independent and the terms and conditions of employees of voluntary organisations are a matter for their employers.

  There are no specific funding streams to assist voluntary organisations with their liability to the Scottish Voluntary Sector Pensions Scheme.

Voluntary Sector

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it is taking to assist third sector organisations in winning procurement contracts in the (a) public, (b) private and (c) social enterprise sector.

John Swinney: We are committed to providing high quality public services and recognise the important role of the third sector in their delivery. The Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan includes provision of a wide range of support to help open markets across sectors including tender writing training for third sector organisations. We are also working with partners in the public, private and the third sectors to ensure that the way in which services are commissioned leads to the best possible services for those that need them.

Voluntary Sector

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many social enterprises have contacted the aspire to enterprise consortium for business support since January 2008.

John Swinney: From the beginning of January 2008, until the end of February 2010, a total of 151 social enterprises have contacted the Aspire to Enterprise Programme for business support.

Voluntary Sector

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many social enterprises the aspire to enterprise consortium has signposted to Business Gateway since January 2008.

John Swinney: From the beginning of January 2008, until the end of February 2010, a total of 15 social enterprises were referred to Business Gateway from the Aspire to Enterprise Programme.

Voluntary Sector

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is evaluating value for money regarding business support for third sector organisations.

John Swinney: Value for money of business support will be an element of the current evaluation in the forthcoming report Third Sector Investment and Support Evaluation . This is due to be published in the summer.

Voluntary Sector

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is evaluating the success of business support for third sector organisations.

John Swinney: Business support to the third sector will be evaluated through the forthcoming report Third Sector Investment and Support Evaluation . This is due to be published in the summer.

Voluntary Sector

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) third sector organisations and (b) social enterprises contributed to the economy in each of the last three years.

John Swinney: The economic contribution of (a) the third sector and (b) social enterprises are not available from official statistics sources. However, statistics are available to monitor the social economy turnover in Scotland in relation to National Indicator 18.

  The following table shows the social economy turnover for 2006-08 in cash and real terms. Data for 2009 will be published on 25 March 2010.

  (£ Million)

  

 Year
 Turnover (Cash Terms)
 Turnover (Real Terms)


 2006
 2,603
 2,748


 2007
 2,821
 2,900


 2008
 2,865
 2,865

Voluntary Sector

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed in (a) third sector organisations and (b) social enterprises in each of the last three years.

John Swinney: The number of people employed in (a) third sector organisations and (b) social enterprises is not available from official statistical sources.

  Information from the Labour Force Survey for the October to December Quarter in each of the three years 2007-09 is shown in the following table. This provides an estimate of the number of people in Scotland who reported that they worked for a non-private organisation of the type "charity, voluntary organisation or trust" and relates to their main job only.

  

 2007
 80,000


 2008
 76,000


 2009
 83,000